Costa Rica Family Holiday with teenagers

Get your adventure on in one of Latin America’s most amazing nature destinations

Travel to Costa Rica on a tailored family tour and experience a country that’s brimming with natural beauty and adventure activities. Hike to a crater lagoon, soak in hot springs, gaze at precious pre-Colombian treasures, take in mind-blowing views of Arenal Volcano, do some whitewater rafting, explore cloudforest, go on a crocodile safari, and look out for monkeys and armadillos in a jungle right next to the beach. With expert local guidance, photo-ops galore, chances to try your Spanish skills and plenty of swimming pool action, this ticks all the boxes for an epic family getaway.

Why you'll love this trip

Dive into the heart of one of the world’s most biologically diverse countries, travelling along rivers, through dense rainforest, past towering volcanoes and to blissful beaches on a journey that will awaken your inner nature-lover

Get active on an incredible range of outdoor pursuits – rafting along rapids, climbing up to volcanic craters, safari-ing for crocs, and hiking through jungle

Enjoy close-up encounters with Costa Rica’s endless wildlife, then enjoy plenty of time to let off some steam in thermal springs and swimming pools (like the one that sits in the magnificent shadow of the steaming Arenal Volcano)

End this adventure by hitting Manuel Antonio National Park, where the evergreen forest grows right up to the long, white beaches and irresistible water

Is this trip right for you?

Make sure you pack some sturdy and comfortable shoes, because you’ll be doing plenty of walking – around towns, and through forests and jungle.

There are a few days of long travel on this trip, as you’ll be covering a lot of ground. These drives are along smooth roads in new and comfortable vehicles, and are great for games, chats and scenery spotting. You’ll also make interesting stops along the way to break up those longer drives.

In tropical Central America, it can get pretty hot and humid. Carry plenty of water because hydration is key, especially when you’re walking a lot. Rest assured there will be many chances to cool off with a swim.

It’s a good idea to try and brush up on as many Spanish words as you can. While locals are really friendly, they can also be shy, so knowing some local lingo is a great way to break the ice and show you care about them and their culture.

Gallery

Itinerary

Welcome to Costa Rica. The adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at the hotel in San Jose. You can arrive at any time today, as there are no activities planned until this group meeting. San Jose sits in the heart of the country in the lush, wide Central Valley, and has a comfortable subtropical climate. With over half the country's population living within its limits, it’s a bustling city with lively markets, intriguing museums and a fun atmosphere. Its grid pattern makes it easy to navigate too – the avenidas run east to west and the calles run north to south. After the meeting tonight, perhaps get to know the rest of the group by heading out for your first taste of the local ‘tico’ food.

Accommodation

Tryp Sabana or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Kick off this Costa Rican adventure with a hearty breakfast, fuelling up for an exploration of the Poas Volcano National Park. In the park you’ll discover untouched nature, an active volcano, and have the chance to breathe fresh, cool mountain air. At the top of this volcano, 2,700 metres above sea level, you can step to the edge of a platform and look down on a smoking sleeping giant – steam can pour out around a sulphuric, bubbling, green crater lake.

You can also take a gentle hike to the other side of dense green cloud forest, along a meandering trail to a second, inactive crater. The crystal blue Botos Lagoon is surrounded by bird-filled trees, and if you’ve got extra sharp eyesight you might catch sight of a hummingbird. Later, back at the bottom, take a city tour of San Jose; you may pass areas like the Plaza de la Culture and the Mercado Central, which are great places to get a real sense of daily Costa Rican life.

You’ll also make a stop at the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum to explore its glittering collection. Gold had an important function in the indigenous social hierarchy, and it was of course a big reason why the Spanish were attracted to the area.

Accommodation

Tryp Sabana or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

San Jose - Poas Volcano National Park

San Jose - City Tour

San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum

Meals Included

After breakfast, it's time to head out to Arenal Volcano National Park. The scenery is made up of primary cloud forest and rainforest, and it's a land of rivers, lakes and, thanks to the volcano’s inner workings, a number of thermal springs where hot, lava-heated water gushes to the surface. Some of these springs have been turned into thermal pools, often surrounded by dense foliage, making them a great place to relax and chill out.

Your accommodation for the next two nights has a particularly special feature – a pool with a view of a towering volcano! There is time to relax and have a splash here on arrival, before visiting the volcanic thermal pools at the Ecotermales Hot Springs, where you can enjoy a soak before dinner.

Accommodation

Pachira Lodge or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Arenal - Ecotermales Hot Springs

Meals Included

Get and explore the lush tropical surrounds of this idyllic location with the family. For many, one of the highlights of this trip is the exhilarating fun of battling the gushing rapids of the Balsa River. The level of rafting here is very suitable for families (Class 2 to 3), but please note that the minimum age is 8 years old. After a safety briefing and getting kitted out with an orange vest, you’ll get wet and wild, working your way as a team through increasingly challenging rapids with names like ‘Magnetic Rock’, ‘Congo Loco’ and ‘Dredges’.

Along the way, look out for wildlife such as sloths and Toucans – if you’re not too busy getting wet that is. When you finish and return to the hotel, there may be time for additional activities like horse riding or hiking.

If you’re worn out from the day’s action, then not much can beat chilling by the pool and gazing up at the much-loved famous volcano. It isn’t spewing lava every day and night like it used to, but it is still rumbling and puffing out plumes of gas.

Accommodation

Arenal Paraiso Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Whitewater Rafting

Meals Included

Travel along the Arenal Lake – a famous hangout for windsurfers – via Tilaran to Monteverde de Santa Elena (approximately 4–5 hours).

Enjoy superb views across the lake back towards the Arenal Volcano, and stop on the roadside for some homemade cakes and refreshments. Climb to Monteverde, feel the climate cooling and see the vegetation change from tropical to cloud forest. The surrounding hills are scattered with fair-trade co-operative coffee plantations, famous for producing some of the best coffee beans in the country.

Teeming with wildlife, the Monteverde Cloudforest Biological Preserve is a nature lover's paradise. Cloud forests are similar to rainforests, but instead of relying on rain for essential moisture, the water comes from the semi-permanent cloud that covers the region. More than 2,000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call Montverde home. You’ll have lots of time to discover the natural wonders here. In the afternoon there may be time to visit a butterfly farm (optional).

Accommodation

Arenal Paraiso Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Today everyone will become an ornithologist! Explore a forest that’s home to the Resplendent Quetzal (one of the most reclusive birds in the world), the blue-crowned motmot, the emerald toucanet and some 30 species of iridescent hummingbird – and that’s just a few of the 400-odd bird species recorded here. There are also 100 mammal species, 1200 amphibian and reptile species, and many thousands of insect species. Experience the Sky Walk, which is made possible by hanging bridges suspended among the trees. It's not for vertigo sufferers, but it provides a fantastic view of everything from above rather than below. As well as optional activities like horse riding and zip-lining, there might be the option to hike through the forest as dusk as nocturnal creatures begin to stir.

Accommodation

Punta Leona Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Monteverde - Sky Walk

Meals Included

Travel along a coastline of fine sand beaches and African palm plantations to Manuel Antonio National Park. En-route, you’ll make a detour to take part in a fun jungle crocodile safari (approximately 3.5 hours), which gives you the opportunity to check out American crocodiles in their natural environment (not to mention the birdlife, which spans more than a hundred species). The journey ends near Quepos, a sport-fishing centre and the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. Your accommodation is near the Pacific Ocean and the tropical forest, and part of the property has been officially declared a Wildlife Reserve, thanks to its biodiversity in plant species and fauna, such as spider monkeys, sloths, coati, and armadillos. Soak up some rays and enjoy the unique beach setting.

Accommodation

Punta Leona Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Manuel Antonio National Park - Jungle Crocodile Safari

Meals Included

Manuel Antonio National Park stands a few kilometres south of Quepos on the shores of the Pacific. Incorporating 12 small islands scattered just off a coast where migrating whales can sometimes be seen, the park is home to hundreds of mammal and bird species in a region of lagoons and fertile mangrove swamps.

During your time in the region, you’ll enjoy a three-hour guided walk along the trails within the park and have plenty of time to relax on one of the idyllic palm-lined bays. The turquoise seas are perfect for swimming, kayaking, sailing or fishing. It would be easy to spend your whole time here in, or by, the water, where lush rainforests sprawl gently towards the sand and white-faced capuchin monkeys peer cheekily from the treetops. This is a great spot for a family holiday, with fully equipped apartments, swimming pools, water sports and many activities for both children and adults.

Included Activities

Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Meals Included

After breakfast, leave the accommodation and retrace your steps northward along the coastal road to San Jose (approximately 2–4 hours). The adventure comes to an end on arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and there is no accommodation included for tonight.

If you’re flying out today, it's important to book your flight for no earlier than midday. If you wish to stay longer we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability) and provide a complimentary transfer back to the hotel. Please enquire about these services at the time of booking the trip.

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Inclusions

Meals

7 breakfasts,
1 lunch,
1 dinner

Transport

Minibus

Accommodation

Hotels (8 nights)

Included activities

San Jose - Poas Volcano National Park

San Jose - City Tour

San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum

Arenal - Ecotermales Hot Springs

Whitewater Rafting

Monteverde - Sky Walk

Manuel Antonio National Park - Jungle Crocodile Safari

Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Meals

7 breakfasts,
1 lunch,
1 dinner

Transport

Minibus

Accommodation

Hotels (8 nights)

Included activities

San Jose - Poas Volcano National Park

San Jose - City Tour

San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum

Arenal - Ecotermales Hot Springs

Whitewater Rafting

Monteverde - Sky Walk

Manuel Antonio National Park - Jungle Crocodile Safari

Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Dates & availability

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Important notes

Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
Age restrictions apply to this trip: minimum age 10.
A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at the time of travel.
This tour finishes on arrival to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) on Day 9. Please ensure that your departure flight is booked to depart after midday. If you wish to stay longer we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability) and provide a complimentary transfer back to the hotel. Please enquire about these services at time of booking.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.